Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes Of Time; Double Cross Platform?

Most of the time when a game promises to go ‘cross platform’, the end results tend to feel uninspired. Animal Crossing was the exception as it has a wonderful cross platform feature, that pretty much added a whole other aspect to the gameplay. Square Enix looks to build on that idea, when it launches what I consider a double cross platform feature.

When you think of a console-handheld cross platform system, you tend to think that the handheld portion is just some kind of cool add-on to the console gameplay. With FFCC: Echoes of Time that thought looks to be changing. Calling it a ‘Double Cross Platform’ may sound misleading but I could think of no other way to call it. The game itself will be released on both Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Wii, so you’re going to have to get really invested if you want to experience the cross platform features.

The first cross platform feature utilizes more of the DS, and puts the Nintendo Wii as the helping hand. When you boot up your copy of FFCC: Echoes of Time you’ll have the option to import Miis to your DS. I’m a little skeptical of this feature, with the main question being, How are they going to integrate a Nintendo Mii into a FFCC RPG?

The second feature was announced by Kotaku this morning. This feature sounds much more useful, though still questionable. Not only will FFCC: Echoes of Time have merely cross platform features, you’ll be able to play the game with someone utilizing the DS, while you or someone else plays on the Wii. Square Enix is able to pull this off using what’s called the Pollux Engine. What happens, is that the DS version of the game is ported to the Wii. The screen size will shrink, and there will be a border surrounding the gameplay screen, much like Wario Land if you play it using 16:9 settings. I’m a bit skeptical to see how this will prove useful, and why you wouldn’t just want to with someone else directly on the Wii.

Since there have been few details, I’ll remain open minded. Let’s hope some big questions get answered when TGS hits starts.